I'm not too sure what's all included in RASP. When my son went through it was still RIP. I know RASP is more than just selection now along with some actual training as opposed to strictly testing as it was in RIP.

Here in SE WI we can have milder winters than a little north & west of here. Lale Michigan taKes all summer to warm & all winter to cool so our temps can be a few degrees warmer. We can get "lake effect" snow, though. When the wind blows from the east we can really get dumped on, usually a wet, heavy snow. When my in-laws were still alive they lived on a small lake not far from here, less than a half hour's drive. There could be a significant difference in snow fall. Those are the days when I loved winter. We could skate, ice fish, snowmobile, snow shoe & cross country ski (that's how I stayed fit when I was an advisor to a Reserve Division & PT wasn't quite the same as in an Airborne unit, LOL). Even with Lake Michigan close by our temps can easily get down to below zero F.

I just got alerted that I have to restart the computer due to a completed upgrade so I'll say good afternoon for now & get back on later or tomorrow for sure.

Proud Dad of a US Army Airborne Ranger SFC
Retired US Army 1SG/MSG, Airborne Infantry, G-3, Instructor
Former USN - Submarines, USS Chopper (SS 342) & Navy Diver, UDT 21
I was a Soldier. I am a Soldier. I will always be a Soldier.

Well in my last few sessions of BJJ,I found out that one of the guys had actually been a batt boy that went through RIP...He sounded like he'd been on the tenth level beyond hell at Cole Range."Hit the woodline"he said lol.But guess its all fun and games till your getting smoked at Cole Range.

I'm currently stateside,and will be for some time...least till I get settled in and go to the recruiters office for practice tests.I'll still have the same jobs in mind.But overtime some of my aspects of what I do and don't about the Military.Long story short whenever I join I plan to be open,and keep what I know personal and keep my piehole shut.Kinda learned the hard way,but early to not give off the impression as a know it all.

I still haven't got a new PC yet.But I might find one next week or the week after.Trying to get my hands on a car first.Whenever I do I plan to meet up with these others and study together as I settle in some.Other than that spite the changes in our country and how Korea was much safer to live in...

What you say about Korea being safer is exactly why I always carry a firearm. I'm waiting for a letter that I'll get telling me I can renew my concealed carry license which isn't due until May. I can renew 120 days before expiration & after I receive that letter. My "professional gun license" for Security & Private Detective also comes due soon but I think I'll let it expire. I 'd have to take the law enforcement firing range test & it's very expensive. My PI agency boss said it was unnecessary & I could still carry my firearm on the job with my state CCW license. He didn't volunteer to pay for the test, LOL. I'm mostly Chairborne now anyhow & that's where he wants me. He'd rather have me sit at a computer than be on a surveillance job.

My son thought RIP was harder than Ranger School. Of course he didn't have daily PT & the experience of a deployment with the 3rd Batt & Pre Ranger before he went to RIP. I'm not sure if RASP is easier or harder. I just know it's longer with more instruction before testing.

I can't believe I've had this "new" computer for 1 year & 9 days already. Got it as a Christmas present last Christmas.

You'll find your time in the Army will be a whole lot easier if you open your ears & close your mouth. When I was an Instructor in (Choose the subject. There are many, LOL) I had a very special program for the know-it-alls, LOL. I even kind of felt sorry for them if their DS was sitting in the back of the classroom or on the range. Recruit Snuffy learned the hard way. It was particularly cruel if their words of wisdom were wrong info. I can remember a few at Airborne School when I was a Black Hat SGT Airborne whose words of wisdom would have resulted in injured or dead Paratroopers. After all - they had all that civilian sky diving experience. It was not fun course for them & they learned real fast how to properly spit shine their Instructor's boots before bedtime among other "useful" duties which usually included running, pushups, situps & pullups. Ahh - I miss it, LOL.

Keep me in the loop when you can & the best of luck to you!

Proud Dad of a US Army Airborne Ranger SFC
Retired US Army 1SG/MSG, Airborne Infantry, G-3, Instructor
Former USN - Submarines, USS Chopper (SS 342) & Navy Diver, UDT 21
I was a Soldier. I am a Soldier. I will always be a Soldier.

Been back in Texas for about a month now.Still haven't touched base with the recruiters,but I'm in no rush.Seeing how I still need to take my drivers test(Two weeks),and get a part time job.But also because I found myself having an issue..."Broken Ducky" issue.Now I'm not exactly sure if I am one,but I'm paying close attention to it and how it could affect me in the Military.I have considered seeing someone to talk to and clear my head,without them trying to give me something considered a DQ.

However I've done things that I could've died doing,and see more danger each day on the road.Because where I live at in Texas accidents,happen often.Every other day if not everyday,I see&hear sirens at an intersection or the side of the road,with a wrecked vehicle.So the matter of danger isn't too much of the problem.Its how I'll be able to react and operate with situations in the Military.I was JROTC,and had more responsibility as PSG with those "days"(Good and Bad).But the Military,let alone the Infantry is a whole different animal with higher levels of stress&responsibility.Because like they say its a make or break situation,your either cut out or not.So I've taken some time to think about that,because once you raise that right and take the oath,you just swore to do the job you signed for regardless of its stress,lows,and responsibilities.I see there is good stuff in between,but you have to be able to work through the dirt and dark in order to reach the sand and sun of your goals.

Which is pretty much what I've been reciting to myself lately,to try and make the right decision.Mainly for me,but also to avoid being a gross to the other service members.Other than that,I've been quite busy helping my old man with his moving and daily routines,as well as hitting the range and getting some time in on his nine and a suppressed M4...Because of that I have fell in love with guns,and can't wait to go back to the range shoot up the target sheet lol.But my marksmanship does get better each time we go.

Lately or when I've been studying,I have had my fathers help in the math portions.Because of that I went from the thirties up to the mid fifties to low sixties in Math&Arithmetic reasoning.Still need to work on it of course,but I know if I continue I will do well on those portions when I take the test again.
(Just checking in,hopefully everything is going smooth for you.)

That's great that you got your math grades up so much. I was always pretty good at math but found that in the real world I don't have much of a need for it. If I need to solve a problem I use a calculator. No need for pencil & paper.

I have to get to the range soon. I think the last time was between Christmas & New Year. I have 300 rounds of practice .40 cal (American Eagle) on hand. Maybe 350 rounds. The last time I was at the range I shot 400 rounds of practice ammo & I think about a dozen self defense ammo. At a buck a round for SD I sort of go easy on it. Just enough to make sure it goes through & ejects properly. I love shooting but I'm not as good as I use to be. Good enough to hit the target in a vulnerable spot, though. I've been practicing triple taps & I can get 2 in the heart & 1 in the head rapid fire most times. At least 1 lethal shot when I have a bad day. That's at the standard SD range of 21 feet. Anything farther can be determined that you didn't shoot an actual threat to you by a good prosecutor. Any closer than 21' is dangerous because a man with a knife or club can close that distance very fast.

I'm not sure what a "Broken Ducky" is. I know I heard the term but this isn't one of my sharpest days. Miserable cold. One of my grandsons or my teacher daughter carried it home from one of three schools. Happens every year. Each of those schools has or had colds or flu going around. I suffer because my left nostril only has a pinhole opening due to scar tissue from a shrapnel hit to my face. The added pressure gives me a sinus headache. Got my nose, corner of the mouth & just below the left eye. Could have been a whole lot worse.

I wouldn't worry too much about how you'll react in combat if I were you. Army training is one the best in the world (the Israelis have it over us IMHO). You'll do many effective drills. Your SGTs will get you up to speed.

My son has completed the testing for our PD's Tactical Enforcement Unit. He won't find out if he made the cut until June but he's optimistic. He placed first in most of the events & second in the rest & he was told there are 3 slots to fill at this time. He also finally got his promotion to SFC in the Reserve unit. He's been qualified for almost 2 years but had to wait for a slot to open. If they waited another few months he would have had to redo the Advanced NCO Course.

I'll close for now. I want to get outside to clear my head. The temps are in the mid '30s the last time I looked so I want to take advantage of it. Every day have to clean the street gutters of garbage & debris. People around here have a tendency to throw their McDonald's paper & left overs out of their car windows rather than take it home with them & dispose of it properly. This last summer a guy from the neighborhood noticed someone throwing stuff out of his car. He collected it (he was on his Harley) & at the next stop light he tossed it back in the car, LOL. He said "you lost something". Big biker dude & he wasn't too worried about any retaliation. He was also armed just in case.

Last edited by MSG Glenn; 02-12-2017 at 08:27 AM.

Proud Dad of a US Army Airborne Ranger SFC
Retired US Army 1SG/MSG, Airborne Infantry, G-3, Instructor
Former USN - Submarines, USS Chopper (SS 342) & Navy Diver, UDT 21
I was a Soldier. I am a Soldier. I will always be a Soldier.